Note: I spoke at Craig Hamrick's memorial service in November 2006. Here's the text. I miss him every day. I hope his spirit is somewhere happy and fulfilled.

What can you say at the loss of a best friend?

That he was a pillar of strength for me, even on his worst days battling cancer?

That he was an inspiration?

An idea-man extraordinaire, responsible in many ways for my becoming a published author?

That he was one of the bravest and most honest people I ever knew?

Yes…but there was so much more to Craig, and to our relationship.

I am thankful that we had 10 years together, and shared so much personally and professionally. I am anguished that we won’t have any of those two-hour phone calls during which we’d laugh and insult each other and invariably he’d come up with 10 ideas for me to write about or help market my books…without even trying.

Or grab a quick lunch together (inevitably filled with fried foods)…

Or see a Broadway show, or answer the phone to hear: please come to see this woman, I think you’ll know her – she used to sing around the same time as the Supremes did (one of many references to my age…it was Darlene Love and she was fabulous).

Or just watching a classically cheesy old movie or TV show with him, having the best time cutting it to shreds.

Craig was one of those people about whom you could say, "He had so much more to do," and you'd be right. But in the little less than 40 years he traversed this planet, he accomplished more than many do in a lifespan twice that long. An author, superb editor and writer, equally excellent photographer, son, brother, uncle, best friend, and lover, I met Craig when I started working at Computer Shopper in 1996.

Our mutual love of comics (especially Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane and the art of D.C. Comics' Kurt Schaffenberger) became our first bond. Soon, he (more than 10 years my junior) became a true mentor, coming up with ideas and pushing me to go forward and complete them. I wouldn't have seven books under my belt if it wasn't for Craig.

We started the TV Tidbits line of books out of our mutual love of classic television. I hope to continue the line in a way that Craig would have been proud of. If he were here right now, he'd no doubt be telling me to shut up and use this time to promote my books, instead. But I can't think of a better way to use this time than to remind everyone that a wonderful man and friend once walked among us. My heart goes out to his family and long-time companion, Joe. Though I am happy and relieved that Craig is no longer in pain, this is where our pain begins.

What has helped me survive the deaths of grandparents, my mother, and other loved ones, is the knowledge that death does not triumph over love. "Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality." Emily Dickinson wrote it, and I believe it.

I wish that all of us have many miles to go before our final passage, but I also wish we would not dread that journey, since it will be the first time to catch up on things with Craig and our loved ones. You just know he's going to have a lot to say about Heaven.

So Craig, for the friendship we shared walking along life’s gnarly path, for all that you taught me, and hopefully some little things I may have taught you, for all your gifts to me, both literally and figuratively, I will try my best to celebrate your life with my own.

Okay, pal. Knowing that by now you’d be ready to slap me, I'll shut up.

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